Senior scribes to stage dharna in front of Odisha Assembly
The demands of the SJAO included among other things provision of pensions for retired journalists.
The House Committee of Odisha Assembly constituted to probe the derogatory utterances against MLAs by defence analyst Abhijit Iyer-Mitra will submit its report to the assembly on Friday.
Committee chairman Narasingha Mishra said they had examined the affidavit and deposition of Mitra who described himself as an academic and not a journalist as was being reported by the media.
The findings and recommendation of the committee would be placed before the Assembly tomorrow and it’s for the House to take a decision on the matter, he said.
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Iyer-Mitra deposed before the House Committee of the Odisha Assembly last month and tendered an unconditional apology for his remarks. He had said it was “stupid” on his part to have made the remarks.
It may be noted that Abhijit Iyer-Mitra has been in jail following his arrest by the police in connection with two cases lodged against him for comments made on Konark temple, Odia culture etc on the social media.
He had posted a video with allegedly sarcastic comments on the Konark Sun Temple on September 16.
Abhijit Iyer-Mitra’s applications for bail have been rejected twice. He is facing charges under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), 295A and 298 (criminalising acts or words uttered intended to outrage or wound the religious feelings of any individual or class), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.
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